Stachys plant named ‘Summer Romance’

ABSTRACT

A new, distinct Stachys plant as shown and described, characterized by the longer pink purple flower clusters with more flowers as compared to the seed parent.

Latin name: Stachys.

Cultivar name: ‘Summer Romance’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct hybrid of Stachysplant named ‘Summer Romance’ characterized by the longer pink purpleflower clusters with more flowers as compared to the seed parent. Thenew Stachys was raised as a seedling from open pollinated seed sown fromthe seed parent Stachys ‘Hummelo’, not patented, in Hebron, Ill. in2009. The selection of the new plant was due to its' longer and morepink purple flower clusters with more flowers, compared to the seedparent. Initial asexual reproduction has taken place at a nursery inHebron, Ill. since 2010 by means of division, and vegetative cuttings.The new Stachys has shown to be stable and identical in reproduction tothe parent after rooting over 1400 plants from 2010 to 2016. No plantsof the new Stachys have been sold in this country, or anywhere in theworld, prior to the filing of this application, nor has any disclosureof the new plant been made prior to the filing of this application withthe exception of that which was disclosed within one year of filing ofthis application and was either derived directly or indirectly for theinventor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Stachys plant named ‘Summer Romance’ characterized by the longerpink purple flower clusters with more flowers as compared to the seedparent have been observed to be unique and stable. For purpose ofcomparison the new plant will be referred to as ‘Summer Romance’.

Plants of ‘Summer Romance’ can be compared to the seed parent plant ofStachys ‘Hummelo’, not patented. 1. The ‘Summer Romance’ plant istaller, growing to 75 cm while Stachys ‘Hummelo’ grows to 40 cm. 2. The‘Summer Romance’ plant has a flower color of N78 B while Stachys‘Hummelo’ has a flower color of 77 A.

Plants of ‘Summer Romance’ can also be compared to a pink floweredStachys, ‘Pink Cotton Candy’, U.S. Pat. No. 21,436, patented. 1. The‘Summer Romance’ plant is taller growing to 75 cm while Stachys ‘PinkCotton Candy’ grows to 47 to 50 cm. 2. The ‘Summer Romance’ plant has aflower color of N78 B while Stachys ‘Pink Cotton Candy’ has a flowerbi-color of N66 A and between 61 A and B.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

Plants pictured in the drawing were grown for two years.

FIG. 1. Close up of the flower.

FIG. 2. A group of potted plants.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (2001). Plants used for thedescription were grown for two years in a 1 gallon pot. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages of typical plants.

PLANT

-   Botanical classification: Stachys hybrid.-   Form: Globular shape.-   Height: 75 cm from soil to top of flowers; 50 cm wide.-   Growth: Herbaceous perennial, broad upright, moderate vigor.    -   -   Roots.—Fine, compact, dense, freely branching, white.-   Stem:    -   -   Form.—Quadrangular, strong.        -   Color.—145 A.        -   Pubescence.—Densely covered with short green white hairs,            about 1-2 mm long.-   Branching: No.    -   -   Form.—Basal stems, no pinching required.        -   Diameter.—5 mm.        -   Length.—75 cm.        -   Internode length.—Range from 7 cm to 24 cm long.        -   Quantity.—About 20 flowering lateral stems.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Number of leaves per stem.—4, 2 pairs.        -   Size of leaf.—Length: 10 cm, shorter at tops of stems.            Width: 43 mm.        -   Shape of leaf.—Oval.        -   Shape of tip.—Obtuse.        -   Shape of base.—Sagittate.        -   Texture.—Rugose.        -   Pubescence.—Very dense rugose hairs, light green-white, less            than 1-2 mm long on underside of main vein.        -   Margin type.—Dentate.        -   Color.—Young and Mature leaves: Upper surface: Close to            137 C. Lower surface: Close to 146 C.        -   Petioles.—Length: 20 mm. Diameter: 2-3 mm, 8 mm at base.            Color: Top: 145 A, Bottom 145 C.        -   Veins.—Pattern: Pinnate. Color: Upper surface: close to            137 C. Lower surface: 145 C.-   Durability: Highly durable to stresses; when crushed, foliage    spreads typical odor.-   Response time to flower: About 10 months when grown in the    containers.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Continuous from June into July.-   Inflorescence type and habit: Terminal verticillaster, labiate, no    fragrance, flower lasts about three weeks on plant, self-cleaning.-   Rate of flower opening: About 50-75% of flowers open at once, all    flowers open in about 4 weeks.-   Number of flowers: About 90 per spike; 20 stems, 1800 flowers per    plant.-   Inflorescence size:    -   -   Diameter.—5 cm.        -   Height.—75 cm.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Up to 20 cm.        -   Diameter.—2 mm.        -   Color.—Top lip N78 B with some dark areas N78 A, Bottom N78            C.        -   Orientation.—Upright.        -   Strength.—Strong.-   Corolla:    -   -   Petal arrangement.—Labiate with one upper lip and one            3-lobed lower lips having one main lobe and two smaller side            lobes.        -   Overall size.—10 mm high; 6 mm wide.        -   Margin.—Entire upper lip; 3-lobed lower lip.        -   Tip shape.—Emarginate upper lip; rounded lower lip.        -   Length.—Average upper lip: 7 mm; average lower lip: 5 mm.        -   Width.—Average upper lip: 4 mm; average lower lip: 6 mm.        -   Petal quantity.—2, fused at base.        -   Petal apex shape.—Upper lip; broad elliptic; folded; lower            lip spathulate.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Aspect.—Drooping.        -   Petaloids.—None.-   Color:    -   -   Petals.—When opening: Upper surface: N78 B. Lower surface:            N78 C. Fully opened: N78 B. Lower surface: N78 C.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Length.—10 mm.        -   Diameter.—3 mm width.        -   Color.—N78 B.-   Calyx:    -   -   Arrangement.—5 sepals fused into a tube at 90% of the            length; 3 upper sepals fused nearly at the tips; 2 lower            sepals fused nearly at the tips.        -   Height.—7 mm length.        -   Diameter.—3 mm.        -   Shape.—Tubular.        -   Sepals.—Shape: Elliptic with acute tip and crenate base.            Size: Average 7 mm long; 1 mm wide. Margin: Entire. Texture:            Grayish hairs; less than 0.2 mm long. Color: Outer surface:            N77 C at the top third and green 145 C at the base. Inner            surface: from the tips down N77 C to green 145 C at the            base. Bracts: 2 bracts under each whorl of flowers; deltoid            shape with apiculate tip; upper surface 145 C lower surface            145 C with N77 C spot or streaks.        -   Odor.—Present in petals and sepals.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—4.        -   Filament length.—3-4 mm.        -   Anthers.—Shape: Basifixed, elliptic. Length: 0.5 mm. Color:            Dark with white pollen, too small to measure color.        -   Pollen.—Color: white; too little to determine color. Amount:            very low.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—One.        -   Length.—11 mm.        -   Style.—Length: 11 mm. Color: N155 B at the top half fading            to white at the base.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Cleft (2 parted). Color: N155 B. Ovary color:            145 B.-   Seeds and fruits: Yes, brown and round 0.5 mm long and 0.5 mm wide,    color 200 B.-   Disease/pest resistance: No unusual susceptibility to diseases or    pests has been noted to date.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerate to heat at least up to 30° C. and    cool at least down to USDA Zone 5.

I claim:
 1. A new, distinct Stachys plant as shown and described,characterized by the longer pink purple flower clusters with moreflowers when compared to the seed parent.